Lower Ball Joints

[74Dart318]

Hey guys,

Have not posted on here in a long time but I try and check in on all the cool stuff everyone is doing whenever I can. I have not done much on my 1974 Dart in a few years, just been trying to get through school. Anyway, my dad and I rebuilt the front suspension on the car December 2008 with Performance Suspension Components rebuilt kit (since they are right down the road from my parent's house in phoenix). I went to the alignment shop last week and the guy told me the lower ball joints and the idler arm are bad.
I am very confused by this it has only been 3 years and a few months since they were replaced.
Is there any way I can check my lower ball joints myself to make sure they are bad? Or should I go to a second shop for another opinion?

Thanks in advance

 

[furyus2]

You should be able to jack the car up and have a helper move the tires back and forth while you look for play in the idler arm. Pull up and down on the tire to look for bad ball joints. I think you should ask around for a reputable shop.

 

[RedFish]

I've read a lot about lower ball joints that lasted only 2 years in the past.
Only 2 brands with a good reputation are #1 Moog and #2 TRW .
Any service manual will show how to check for wear and what is acceptable movement.
My memory sux but I think the ball stud is allowed to travel up to 5/16 inch in/out of the socket.

 

[OwdKasd]

To check the ball joints, Jack under the lower control arm. This take the "load" off of the ball joints and allows you to see how much play. Any slight movement would confirm your shops diagnosis.

 

[74Dart318]

I will check my service manual and look at it myself. I will also probably try to find a shop here to have it checked out. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[6pk2goDemon]

If Tempe is not too far away for you, I can help. Send me a PM

 

[daredevil]

Great offer C.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I would chack with the ball joint manufacturer. Different styles of ball joints have different specs for movement. If it's a spring loaded ball joint, it may actually have a maximum amount of allowed travel. Simalar in design to a tie rod end. Many crooked mechanics will grab a tie rod end and squeeze it together vertically. They are all spring loaded and will give that way. It's lateral movement with a tie rod that you do not want. Same with a ball joint. I have seen some that have a max amount of travel allowed vertically, but none I am aware of have a spec for lateral movement.

 

[RedFish]

I would chack with the ball joint manufacturer. Different styles of ball joints have different specs for movement. If it's a spring loaded ball joint, it may actually have a maximum amount of allowed travel. Simalar in design to a tie rod end. Many crooked mechanics will grab a tie rod end and squeeze it together vertically. They are all spring loaded and will give that way. It's lateral movement with a tie rod that you do not want. Same with a ball joint. I have seen some that have a max amount of travel allowed vertically, but none I am aware of have a spec for lateral movement.

That's a new one for me. I've never seen spring loaded ball/socket joints.

 

[74Dart318]

So, went ahead and purchased some Moog lower ball joints and idler arm. Yesterday my dad and I put them on, hopefully these ones last longer than three years. Also, we got a picklefork for the air hammer and got the air ratchet out. Last time when we replaced all the suspension stuff we used regular ratchets and a pickle fork and just hit it with a hammer.... those air tools made the biggest difference.

 

[inkjunkie]

Don't know where in AZ you are, but have been told there is a "good guy" on Meridan and Main in AJ. Buddy owns a trans shop out that way and he has been using the guy for a while now.....

 

[74Dart318]

So, yesterday was the ball joints and the idler arm. Today we figured we would tackle the sway bars. I ordered the front and rear sway bars from Hellwig. Their sway bar kits are awesome. They look great and seem to be built pretty solid. They went together very easy, just one of the plates for the U clamp on the front had to be slightly modified to fit on the k member. It was a little tough for me to get myself to drill into the control arms and the frame :/ Got both put on today, also didn't have any old ones to take off. Getting the alignment done tomorrow and I am excited to drive it afterward.

 

[74Dart318]

I didn't get quite as many pictures of the rear sway bar. We were kind of in a hurry since it started raining and we were outside. First time it has rained in Phoenix in so long and of course it was when we were working on the car hahah.

 

[mopardude318]

very cool.